Needle motion for axminster looms



Aug. 23, 1932*. w. w. ROBERTSON NEEDLE MOTION FOR AXMIIENSTER LOOMS Filed March 15, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l 21 'f i /7 WER/Veys;

NEEDLE MOTION FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed March 16, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 my@ s w. w. ROBERTSON NEEDLE MOTION FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. `23, 17932. 1,873,038

Filed March 16, 1931 WT 2a Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT Lorsica WILLIAM W. ROBERTSON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS,-ASSIGNORTO CROMITON 6c KN OWLES V,110015111 WORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS A CORJOR.AION 0E Y:MASSACHUSETTS Y NEEDLE MOTION ron Axiviiiisrnit nooivis Application flied Maren 16.1931. serialv No. 522,884.

This invention relates to looms forweaving Axminster carpet or otherV similar fabric in which needles are used for inserting the filling.

My present invention relates to `the provision of improved mechanism for vtransversely inserting` and withdrawing the needles with respect to the fabric. i It is an important object of to provide actuating mechanism' for aneedle motion such that the actuating members have a movement in a closed path and without reversal. A

Afurther object is to providel actuating mechanism for a needle motion in which the needle block or holder is stopped and re- 1 versed atits limits oftravelwith an easy sine-curve motion.

An important feature of the invention relates to the' provision of a `chain or bandas `a Y driving element in a needle motion, said band being movableV in a closed patliand inv a single direction.

My invention further relates to arrange- `ments) and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described `and' more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Y

A preferred form of the invention is shown l ,.l in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved needle motion Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation, taken along the line 2.-2 in Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 lis a partialplan view, looking in V sa the `direction ofthe ITOW 3 in Fig l; i

i along the line 5445 inV Fig. 3;

Fig. 41s an end elevation, partly in section y' able thereon.

and looking in the direction ofthe arrow 4 inFig.1;" i

` Fig.v 5 is a 'detail sectional view, taken Fig. 6 is aedetail sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 1, and f Fig. v7 is a detail side elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 7 in Fig. 6. A Referring to the drawings, I havershowvn portions of `an Axininster 'carpet loomV includinga loom frame 10 anda supplementary frame 11 for th'eneedlemotion. A drive .Shaft 12 extends longitudinally through 1the-- my invention i By thedriving mechanism frame 11 and is provided with a pin gear14 '-4 cooperating with an intermittent gear or star wheel 15, mounted on a shaft V*16 supported in fixed bearings 17 v.and 18. The pin gear 14 and star wheel 15 cooperate to form a so'- `called Geneva escapement andV cause the y shaft 1,6 to be alternately advanced and held at rest. p

The gear 20 on the shaft16 engages a pinion 21 on a shaft 22 supportedin fixed bearings 23 and'24 (Figp). The shaft has Y a bevelvgear'25 at one end thereofineshing With a bevel pinion`26 on a cross shaft 27 rotatable'in fixed bearings 28 and 29 and hav- 16:5 i

ing a sprocket 30 secured thereon. w

A V chain 32 connects the sprocket 30 with a smaller sprocketl 33 rotatableon axed stud 34 (Fig. 2).4 A pulley 36 is also rotatable on the stud 34 and is secured 'to thel sprocket 33 to"rotate therewith.

thus far rdescribed, the'sprocket 3 3 and pulley V36 are given successive movements of angular rotation, which-movements are intermittent butk always in the same direction, which is anticlockwise as viewed in Fig. 1. p

A channel iron or bar 40 is supported on brackets 41-and 42 (Fig. 1) above the frame 11 and is extended to the right in Fig. 1 beyond the bracket 42 to provide a supportffor a bracket`44. `A `short shaft 45 (Fig. 4) is mounted fin a bearing 46 at the top. ofthe bracket 44 and is providedat its rear end with a depending arm 48, in thelower end of which a stud 49 is secured. A take-up pulley 50 is mountedron the stud 49 and is loosely rotat- 4'A ratchetplate 52 (Figs.- 1 and 4)A is Asecured to the front end of the studY and isl l provided with a horizontally extending arm 54 supporting a weightW. Aweighted pawl 56 is mounted on a lixed pivot 57 and engages the teeth of the ratchet plate 52.

Ajdriving band 60 is mounted on the pul-r leys36 and 50 and is tensioned by the weight W, acting through the ratchet plate 52 and cross shaft v45. The band 6,0 is provided Vwith spaced-openings 62 andthe pulley 36-is pro` 0b ,Vded tapered studs 64 adaptedgto project through the openings 62 and thus form a positive driving connection with the band 60.

A block or bracket 66 (Figs. 6 and 7 is secured to the band and provides a support for a cross-pin or stud 68 (Fig. 6'). The stud 68 has a Ireduced bearing portion 7 0 on which one end of a connecting rod or link 7 2 is. piveted, andthe stud 68 has a further reduced portion 74 which supports an anti-frietion bearing for a roll 75.

The opposite end of the link 7 2 is pivotally connected to a block (Fig. 2) slidable between dove-tailed guideways 8l on the fixed bar 4G. The needle N is attached to the block It will be obvious that as the band 60 is intermittently 'advanced by the driving mechanism described, the block 80 will be caused to slide hack and forth along its guide- VWays 8l and will be brought to rest with a sine-Curve. or connecting-rod effect at each end of its path of travel.

AS, the, force transmitted through the lconnecting rod 72 would tend to deflect the band 60 in its horizontal runs, I haveprovided angle bars 8,4Y and (Figs. 1 and 2) to supplt the roll 75 and to receive the thrust of the connecting rod. These bars 8.4 and 85 are secured by braces 86 (Figs. 1 and 2) to the fixed horizontaly bar 4Q.

Having described the details of. construction 0f my im roved needle mechanism, it will be seen that have provided mechanism capable of reciprocating a needle smoothly and easilwY atrv desired intervals and at a, higher spe than has been heretofore practicable, as all movements of they actuating mechanism are in thesame direction, and as the reversal of movement ofthe sliding block 80 and .needle N'is accomplished without shock and with allof the advantages, ofthe usual connectingrod or sine-curve motion.

Another advantage of myy inventionresides il the fact that the pins in the pin 'gear .14 may irregularly spaced as desired so as v'to provide @short dwell of the needle when in thefab'ric. and a longer dwell when the needle 'is ont: of the, fabric,I and' furthermorev to providean exceptionally long dwell ofthe needle out of 'the fabricl during thelowering ofthe yarn tubes and the insertion ofthe yarn tufts.

Y By thus providingv for a. sufficiently long neemechanism must operate on every pick Aat a speed slow `enough to provide the necessary long'dfwellf for the tuftinserting pick.'

Having thus described. my invention .and

disadvantages thereof, Il dotnet 'wishtorbe limited to fthe details 1 herein? disclbsud otherband mounted thereon, a driving shaft, a pin gear mounted on said shaft, a star wheel actuated thereby, a shaft for said star wheel, a

positive driving connection by gearing,

sprockets and `chain between said star wheel iat yand one of said pulleys, means on said driven pulley to positively engage and drive said band, a device to which a needle may be attached, means to guide said device for straight line sliding movement, and a connecting rod pivoted to said device and conf' nected to a portion of said band. Y

Q. Needle mechanism for an. Axminster .loom comprising a pair of spaced pulleys, a band mounted thereon,a driving shaft, a pin gear mounted on said shaft, a star wheel ac- 'i tuated thereby, a direct driving connection from said star wheel to one of said pulleys whereby said star wheel and pulley always rotatein the same relative directions, means on said pulley to engage and drive said band, a slidable device to 'which av needle may be attached and .means to connect said device t said band.

3.. Needle mechanism for an Axminster loom comprisin may be attache means to guide said device for sliding 'straight-line movement, a connecting rod pivoted to saidy device, a band supported for movement in a closed path alo; side saidguiding. means, meansI4 to intermittently advance said band in a single direction only, a .bearing member pivotall-y securing one endl of said connecting rod to a point on said band, a roll on said bearing member, and ii'xed supports for said roll ef- Vfective. to prevent twisting displacement of the band' byy the connecting rod thrust. v Needle mechanism for an Axminster loom comprising a device to which a needle may be attached,.means to guide said device for sliding straight line movement, a connecting rod pivotedto said device, a pair of pulleys spaced apart lengthwise of said ,guiding means, a 'continuous band mounted onV said pulleysa bearing member secured to said. band and to which; one end of said 'con- Ynecti'ng rod is pivoted, means .to advance said band intermittently in one direction only to effect reciprecation of said needle, and means to support said band in its straight runs against twisting displacement vor` displacement toward" 'the center line of said pulleys by connecting rod`v thrust.

S5; Needle mechanism for an Axminster loom 'comprising a device to which a needle may be attached, meansto guide said device for sliding straight linemovemen't, av connecting'ro'di pivotedte said' device, a pair of'pulleys spacedapaift lengthwise ofy said guiding means, a. continuous 1 band mounted on said a device to which a needle llO pulleys, abearing member secured to said` band and to which one end of said connecting rod is pivoted, means to advance said band intermittently in one direction only to effect reciprocation of said needle, a roll for said bearing member and supporting bars mounted adjacent the straight runs of the band and eii'ective to engage said roll and to support said band against twisting displacement orv displacement toward the center line of said pulleys by connecting rod thrust.

6. The combination in needle mechanism as set forth in claim 2, in which the pins in the pin gear are irregularly spaced circum l5 ferentially, whereby a different dwell of the needle may be provided on different picks.

7. The combination in needle mechanism as set forth in claim 2, in which means is provid-V4 ed for varying the center line space between the pulleys to take up slack in the band..

In testimony whereof lI have hereunto affixed my signature. y r

` WILLIAM W. ROBERTSON. 

